The Emporia weekly news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1881-1889, 1887-03-03
THAT YET0

THAT VETO.
The Republican of Thursday con-
tains communication something over
a column in length, devoted to de-
tense of Cleveland and his pussilani-
nous conduct in yetoing the dependent |
pension bill. In the communication |
many republican papers are quoted as
indorsing the action of the president,
and the writer claims to have 104 diff
ferent opinions on the subject on his
table while writing the communica-
ton. This goes TO show that he and
others have gone out of their road to
gather these opinions for partisan pur-
poses, and, as he fails to sign his name
to his communication, the chances are
that he is either acopperhead or an ex-
rebel; but hardly the latter, for men
who stood up TO be shot at, as gem
eral rule, are too generous TO oppose
any pension measure. The truth of
the matter is that Cleveland had no
good argument against the bill, and his
veto message was but the merest bosh
its strongest point being one which
applied equally to the Mexican pension
bill, and which this pig-headed auto
crat signed without bubble.
This writer of communications, to
which no signatures is fixed, also al
eyes that the bill was not Endorsed by
the G. A. r., that in fact they were
opposed to the bill and had so ex-
pressed themselves. This is utterly
false. The G. A. r. at San Francisco
did express themselves as opposed to a
general pension bill, but this indenti-
cal bill was fathered and Endorsed by
the G.. A. r., and under its auspices it
was brought before congress.
And now this morning the telegraph
brings us the news that enough mem
bers of the house have been found to
defeat the bill thus stultifying them
selves and, by changing their votes.
admitting they are fools and need guar
dians.
AS a specimen of what a decent,
though thoroughly democratic, news
paper thinks on the subject, we copy
the following editorial from the Du-
buque Telegraph:
The frantic efforts put forth by GER
tain jornals to sustain the president
and to advance arguments upholding
his veto of the dependent pension bill
less and foolish trash, are, in the alb
stract, the most forcible means of
negatively illustrating their lack of
judgment of what is best for the ma
ton and it's gallant defenders. Now,
here is bill that was introduced and
passed for the support of sol
diers who would otherwise
be dependent upon county
or state Institutions or private indi-
dents must have reached the age of
90 years. 1t is therefore reasonable to
suppose that man at that age in life
has at best but few more years to live.
We admit that the portent of this. like
all other pension laws, is
that it be administered in be-
half of the bona fide depend
ent. 1t may be possible that those
who had only nominal connection
with the army may apply and receive
benefits jointly with the deserving.
Even the terms of the bill may permit
such thing. But suppose it does.
We still hold that soldiers who went
through battle, who risked their lives
with their comrades, were fortunate
enough to escape its physical torments
and afterwards Through no fault of
their own become unable TO earn their
own bread are morally and legally en-
titled to governmental support as their
less fortunate companions.
Since, however. the bill is to be again
considered we will admit that it might
be amended SO as to be less objection
able to the president and certain jour
nails. For Instance, instead of grant
ing $l2 per month would it not be we'll
to reduce that amount to IS or even IS,
and in addition pay to each veteran
who is entitled to receive the benefits
of the bill, an amount which is the
difference between the value of the
script he received and the specie or gold
he was to receive when he enlisted?
BY this means the total sum disbursed
for absolute pensions to dependents
would be comparatively small, and the
government would, under the refund
ing plan only pay to the soldier his just
due. Holders of government bonds
were paid in specie, and why should
the men who sustained these securities
as well as the country receive a cur
rency worth at that time scarcely more
| than 40 per cent of specie.
Arguments are advanced that the
| government is already burdened with
pension expenditures. This is not so.
Reducing the whole question to a
money eXpediency the surplus in the
| national treasury can be best distri-
buted among the people by this means.
No bonded interest or huge monopoly
could claim the money as it's own. 1t
would go to the people in small
amounts and circulate among them.
The bill has been asked for from ev-
! cry quarter; it has not been advocated
by politicians from demagogic or sin
lister motives and whether amended or
not the bin should be passed over the
presidents veto.